Anxiety and fear

Worrying about the changes that dementia causes creates fear and uncertainty. There may have been episodes where you lost your way or could not recognize places and people that are otherwise familiar. You may have forgotten important things such as keys, money, appointments, where you left the car, etc. All these experiences create a fear of the unknown.

Many people learn more about dementia because the information can be used constructively to plan the future and thus help reduce anxiety. However, to some, the information can also contribute to raising levels of anxiety and fear.

Thoughts such as: "How long am I going to be able to manage for myself?", or "What am I going to need help with?" will surface. The knowledge that you will become more and more dependent on help from others can be frightening. Nobody wants to be confronted with their own helplessness, and thus anxiety and fear arise.

You should try to work through your anxiety and fear by talking with someone about it.

• Put your feelings into words; ask yourself what you fear the most?
• Say that it is hard to have a dementia disease. Acknowledge the illness and the facts.